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Computers, Communications, and Information: A User's Introduction : Comprehensive Version

by: Clifford, Sarah Hutchinson; Sawyer, Stacey C.

Computers, Communications, and Information: A User's Introduction : Comprehensive Version

by: Clifford, Sarah Hutchinson; Sawyer, Stacey C.

ISBN 13:
9780072508284
ISBN 10:
0072508280
Format: Paperback
Copyright: 06/01/2001
Publisher: McGraw-Hill College

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Summary

Provides a comprehensive overview of information systems and computer technology.

Overview: The Foundation for Your Future

(1)

Who Is the User?-Mostly People Like You

(1)

The Importance of Becoming Computer Literate and Computer Competent

(1)

What Is a Computer-Based Information System?

(4)

The Digital Basis of Computers

(1)

The Analog Basis of Life

(1)

Computer Hardware

(4)

Input Hardware

(2)

Processing and Memory (Primary Storage) Hardware

(1)

Output Hardware

(1)

Secondary Storage Hardware

(1)

Communications Hardware

(1)

Computer Software

(1)

System Software: The Computer's Boss

(1)

Applications Software: Your Servant

(1)

Types of Computer Systems: What's the Difference?

(3)

Milestones in Computer Development

(5)

The Evolution of Computers: March of the Generations

(3)

The Information Explosion: Data Overload or Knowledge

(1)

Computing Trends: Connectivity, Interactivity, and Digital Convergence

(1)

Connectivity

(2)

Interactivity

(1)

Digital Convergence

(1)

Career Box: Using Computers in Real Estate

(1)

Career Box: Using Computers in Government and Politics

(1)

Summary

(6)

Exercises

(3)

Episode 1: Starting a Web Business

Processing Hardware: Turning Data into Something You Can Use

(1)

How Data and Programs Are Represented in the Computer

(4)

Binary Coding Schemes

(1)

The Parity Bit: Checking for Errors

(1)

Machine Language: Your Brand of Computer's Very Own Language

(1)

How Computer Capacity Is Expressed: Bit by Bit

(1)

The Processor, Main Memory, and Registers

(5)

The Processor. In Charge

(1)

Specialized Processor Chips: Assistants to the CPU

(2)

CISC, RISC, and MPP: Not All Processors Are Created Equal

(1)

Main Memory: Working Storage Area for the CPU

(1)

Registers

(1)

The Machine Cycle: How a Single Instruction Is Processed

(1)

Telling Computers Apart: RAM Capacity, Word Size, and Processor Speed

(2)

RAM Capacity

(1)

Word Size

(1)

Processing Speeds

(1)

Focus on the Microcomputer: What's Inside?

(10)

The Power Supply

(1)

The Motherboard

(1)

The Microprocessor

(2)

RAM Chips

(1)

ROM Chips

(1)

Other Forms of Memory

(1)

Ports: Connecting Peripherals

(2)

Expansion Slots and Boards

(2)

Coming Attractions?

(3)

Career Box: Using Computers in Law

(1)

Career Box: Using Computers in Information Technology

(1)

Summary

(4)

Exercises

Input/Output Hardware: Interfaces Between You & the Computer

(1)

I/O, I/O, It's Off to Work We Go

(1)

Input Hardware

(19)

Keyboard Input

(3)

Pointing Devices

(4)

Source-Data Entry

(1)

Scanning Devices

(4)

Voice Recognition

(1)

Audio Input Devices

(2)

Video and Photographic Input

(2)

Sensors

(1)

Human-Biology Input Devices

(1)

Multimedia Input Needs

(1)

Input Controls: Preserving Data Integrity

(1)

Output Hardware

(11)

Impact Printers

(1)

Nonimpact Printers

(4)

Plotters

(1)

Installing a Printer or Plotter

(1)

Multifunction Printer Technology: One for All

(1)

Monitors

(4)

Future Display Technology

(1)

Audio Output Hardware

(1)

Multimedia Output Needs

(1)

In and Out: Devices That Do Both

(1)

Terminals

(1)

Smart Cards and Optical Cards

(1)

Touch Screens

(1)

Now You See It, Now You Don't

(2)

Career Box: Using Computers in Law Enforcement

(1)

Career Box: Using Computers in Genealogy

(1)

Summary

(6)

Exercises

(2)

Episode 2: Deciding to Start Your Web Business

Storage Hardware: Preserving Data & Information

(1)

Storage Fundamentals

(6)

Common Elements of Storage Technology

(3)

Types of Files

(1)

What Can You Do with Files Besides Filing Them?

(1)

Tape Storage

(1)

Diskette Storage

(4)

How a Disk Drive Works

(1)

Characteristics of Diskettes

(2)

Hard Disks

(6)

Nonremovable Internal Hard Disk Drives of Microcomputers

(3)

Microcomputer Hard Disk Variations: Power and Portability

(1)

Virtual Memory: Using Disk Space to Increase RAM

(1)

Hard Disk Technology for Large Computer Systems

(1)

Future Hard Disk Technology: The MR Head

(1)

Optical Disks

(7)

CD-ROM Disks

(2)

CD-R Disks

(1)

CD-RW Disks

(1)

DVD-ROM: The ``Digital Convergence'' Disk

(3)

The Importance of Backup

(1)

Other Forms of Secondary Storage

(1)

Flash-Memory Cards

(1)

Advanced Storage Technology

(1)

Career Box: Using Computers in Agriculture

(1)

Summary

(4)

Exercises

System Software: The Director

(1)

Two Basic Software Types: For the Computer and for the User

(2)

System Software Components

(10)

Operating System: In Control

(4)

Utility Programs: Helping Hands

(5)

Language Translators

(1)

System Software Interfaces

(1)

Common Operating Systems: Platforms

(8)

DOS and Windows 3.x

(1)

Windows 9x

(2)

Windows NT / Windows 2000

(1)

OS/2 Warp

(1)

Unix

(1)

Linux

(1)

Macintosh OS

(1)

Net Ware

(1)

The Future: Is the Web Changing Everything?

(1)

Bloatware or the Network Computer?

(1)

The Jolt from Java

(2)

Career Box: Using Computers in Photography

(1)

Summary

(3)

Exercises

Applications Software: The User's Tools

(1)

Applications Software Tools

(2)

Common Features of Applications Software

(4)

Compatibility Issues: What Goes with What?

(1)

Productivity Software Tools

(14)

Word Processing Software

(4)

Spreadsheet Software

(2)

Personal Finance Software

(1)

Presentation Graphics

(1)

Database Management System Software

(2)

Groupware

(2)

Desktop Accessories and PIMs

(1)

Integrated Software and Software Suites

(1)

Web Browsers

(1)

Specialty Applications Software Tools

(8)

Desktop-Publishing Software

(1)

Project Management Software

(2)

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Manufacturing (CAM)

(1)

Drawing and Painting Software

(1)

Multimedia Authoring Software

(2)

Installing and Updating Applications Software

(1)

Installing Applications Software

(1)

Software Versions and Releases

(1)

Ethics and Intellectual Property Rights: When Can You Copy?

(1)

What Is a Copyright?

(1)

Piracy, Plagiarism, and Ownership of Images and Sounds

(1)

Public Domain Software, Freeware, and Shareware

(1)

Proprietary Software and Types of Licenses

(1)

The Software Police

(1)

Career Box: Using Computers in Automobile Manufacturing

(1)

Career Box: Using Computers in Sports

(1)

Summary

(6)

Exercises

(3)

Episode 3: Planning for Commerce at Your Site

Communications Technology: Starting Along the Information Superhighway

(1)

Using Computers to Communicate Technological Basics

(6)

Analog Signals: Continuous Waves

(1)

Digital Signals: Discrete Bursts

(1)

The Modem: The Great Translator

(3)

Communications Software

(1)

ISDN, Cable Modems ADSL, and Dishes: Faster, Faster, Faster!

(2)

Communications Channels: The Conduits of Communications

(8)

Twisted-Pair Wire

(1)

Coaxial Cable

(1)

Fiber-Optic Cable

(1)

Microwave Systems

(1)

Satellite Systems

(1)

Other Wireless Communications

(5)

Factors Affecting Communications Among Devices

(7)

Transmission Rate: Higher Frequency, Wider Bandwidth, More Data

(1)

Line Configurations: Point-to-Point and Multipoint

(11)

Serial and Parallel Transmission

Direction of Transmission Flow: Simplex, Half-Duplex, and Full-Duplex

(1)

Transmission Mode: Asynchronous Versus Synchronous

(2)

Packet Switching: Getting More Data on a Network

(2)

Multiplexing: Enhancing Communications Efficiencies

(1)

Protocols: The Rules of Data Transmission

(1)

Communications Networks

(3)

Types of Networks: Wide Area, Metropolitan Area, and Local

(1)

Some Network Features: Hosts and Nodes, Downloading and Uploading

(1)

Advantages of Networks

(1)

Local Networks

(7)

Types of Local Networks: PBXs and LANs

(1)

Types of LANs: Client-Server and Peer-to-Peer

(4)

Topology of LANs

(2)

Networking at Work

(1)

Fax Messages

(1)

Voice Mail

(1)

Electronic Mail

(1)

Videoconferencing and V-Mail

(1)

Workgrouping Computing and Groupware

(1)

Electronic Data Interchange

(1)

Intranets and Extranets

(1)

Telecommuting

(1)

The Virtual Office

(5)

Career Box: Using Careers in Retailing (E-Tailing)

(1)

Summary

(6)

Exercises

Uses of Communications Technology : Telecommuting, Online Resources, & the Internet

(1)

The Internet

(10)

Where Did the Internet Come From?

(1)

Connecting to the Internet

(2)

What Can You Use the Internet for?

(3)

Internet Addresses

(4)

The World Wide Web

(9)

Popular Uses of the Web

(1)

Browsing the Web

(2)

Searching the Web

(1)

Experiencing Multimedia on the Web

(4)

Designing Web Pages

(1)

Push Technology: Web Sites Come Looking for You

(1)

Online Services: Who Should Use Them?

(1)

Online Services versus Portals: Is There a Difference?

(1)

New Internet Technologies

(3)

Net Loss?

(2)

Career Box: Using Computers in Job Searches

(1)

Career Box: Using Computers in Auctions

(1)

Summary

(3)

Exercises

(3)

Episode 4: Promoting Traffic to Your Site

Information Systems Analysis & Design: The Systems Development Life Cycle

(1)

User Participation in Systems Development: Helping to Avoid System Failure

(2)

Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

(4)

Are the Phases Distinct? Not Always

(2)

Who Participates? Basically, Everyone

(2)

The First Phase: Conduct a Preliminary Investigation

(2)

Conduct the Preliminary Analysis

(1)

Propose Alternative Solutions

(1)

Describe Costs and Benefits

(1)

Submit a Preliminary Plan

(1)

The Second Phase: Do a Detailed Analysis of the System

(7)

Gather Data

(1)

Analyze the Data

(5)

Write a Report

(1)

The Third Phase: Design the System

(3)

Do a Preliminary Design

(1)

Do a Detail Design

(2)

Write a Report

(1)

The Fourth Phase: Develop/Acquire the System

(2)

Acquire Software

(1)

Acquire Hardware

(1)

Test the System

(1)

The Fifth Phase: Implement the System

(3)

Convert to the New System

(2)

Compile Final Documentation

(1)

Train the Users

(1)

The Sixth Phase: Maintain the System

(1)

Career Box: Using Computers in the Movies

(1)

Summary

(3)

Exercises

Software Programming & Languages: Where Software Comes From

(1)

Programming: A Five-Step Procedure

(10)

The First Step: Clarify the Programming Needs

(1)

The Second Step: Design the Program

(6)

The Third Step: Code the Program

(1)

The Fourth Step: Test the Program

(1)

The Fifth Step: Document and Maintain the Program

(1)

Five Generations of Programming Languages

(6)

First Generation: Machine Language

(10)

Second Generation: Assembly Language

Third Generation: High-Level Languages

(2)

Fourth Generation: Very-High-Level Languages

(1)

Fifth Generation: Natural Languages

(1)

High-Level Programming

(4)

FORTRAN: The Language of Mathematics

(1)

COBOL: The Language of Business

(2)

C: For Portability and Scientific Use

(1)

BASIC: The Easy Language

(1)

Pascal: The Simple Language

(1)

Object-Oriented and Visual Programming

(4)

Object-Oriented Programming: Block by Block

(2)

Internet Programming: HTML, XML, VRML, Java, and ActiveX

(4)

Career Box: Using Computers in Music

(1)

Career Box: Using Computers in Stock Trading

(292)

Summary

323

Exercises

Information Management: Who Needs to Know What, & When?

(1)

Trends Forcing Change in the Workplace

(2)

The Virtual Office

(1)

Automation

(1)

Downsizing and Outsourcing

(1)

Total Quality Management

(1)

Employee Empowerment

(1)

Reengineering

(1)

Organizations: Departments, Tasks, Management Levels, and Types of Information

(7)

Departments: R&D, Production, Marketing, Accounting, Human Resources

(2)

Management Tasks: Five Functions

(1)

Management Levels: Three Levels Three Kinds of Decisions

(4)

Types of Information: Unstructured, Semistructured, and Structured

(1)

Management Information Systems

(8)

Transaction Processing Systems: To Support Operational Decisions

(2)

Management Information Systems: To Support Tactical Decisions

(1)

Decision Support Systems: To Support Strategic Decisions

(3)

Executive Information Systems

(1)

Expert Systems

(1)

Office Automation Systems

(1)

The Future: Going Sideways

(2)

Career Box: Using Computers in Health

(1)

Career Box: Using Computers in Journalism

(1)

Summary

(2)

Exercises

Files & Databases: Organizing & Maintaining Digital Data

(1)

All Databases Great and Small

(3)

The Database Administrator

(1)

The Data Storage Hierarchy and the Key Field

(2)

The Data Storage Hierarchy

(1)

The Key Field

(1)

File Handling: Basic Concepts

(3)

Types of Files: Program and Data Files

(1)

Two Types of Data Files: Master and Transaction

(1)

Batch Versus Online Processing

(1)

Offline Versus Online Storage

(1)

File Organization: Three Methods

(2)

File Management Systems

(1)

Disadvantages of File Management Systems

(1)

Database Management Systems

(2)

Advantages and Disadvantages of a DBMS

(1)

Types of Database Organization

(3)

Hierarchical Database

(1)

Network Database

(1)

Relational Database

(1)

Object-Oriented Database (OODBMS)

(1)

Features of a DBMS

(4)

Data Dictionary

(1)

Utilities

(1)

Query Language

(1)

Report Generator

(1)

Access Security

(1)

System Recovery

(1)

New Approaches: Mining, Warehouses, and ``Siftware''

Data Mining: What It Is, What It's Used For

(1)

Preparing Data for the Data Warehouse

(1)

``Siftware'' for Finding and Analyzing

(1)

The Ethics of Using Databases: Concerns About Accuracy and Privacy

(1)

Accuracy and Completeness of Data

(1)

Privacy

(3)

Career Box: Using Computers in Education

(1)

Summary

(3)

Exercises

Advances in Computing: Multimedia, Artificial Intelligence, & Intelligent Agents

(1)

Multimedia as Part of Your World

(9)

Business and Industry

(1)

Education and Training

(1)

Entertainment and Games

(1)

The Multimedia Computer

(1)

Creating Multimedia

Acquiring Content

(4)

The Authoring Process

(2)

Career Opportunities in Multimedia

(2)

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

(15)

What Is AI Supposed to Do?

(1)

Robots and Perception Systems

(2)

Natural Language Processing

(1)

Fuzzy Logic

(1)

Expert Systems: Human Expertise in a Computer

(4)

Neural Networks

(2)

Genetic Algorithms

(1)

Artificial Life, the Turing Test, and AI Ethics

(2)

Virtual Reality (VR)

(3)

Intelligent Agents, Information Filtering, and Avatars

(1)

Intelligent Agents

(1)

Avatars

(2)

Career Box: Using Computers in Science

(1)

Career Box: Using Computers in Home-Based Work

(1)

Summary

(2)

Exercises

Ethics, Privacy, Security, & Social Questions: Computing for Right Living

(1)

Computers and Privacy

(4)

Databases

(1)

Electronic Networks

(2)

Rules and Laws on Privacy

(1)

The Case for Limiting Privacy: Should We Really Fear ``Data Rape''?

(1)

Intellectual Property Rights

(3)

Truth in Art and Journalism

(3)

Manipulation of Photos

(1)

Manipulation of Video

(1)

Manipulation of Facts

(1)

Free Speech, Civility, Pornography, Hate Speech, and Censorship

(2)

Civility: Online Behavior and ``Nettiquette''

(1)

Pornography and Censorship

(2)

Security: Threats to Computer and Communications Systems

(8)

Errors and Accidents

(1)

Natural and Other Hazards

(1)

Crimes Against Computers and Communications

(1)

Crimes Using Computers and Communications

(1)

Worms and Viruses

(2)

Computer Criminals

(2)

Security: Safeguarding Computers and Communications

(6)

Identification and Access

(3)

Encryption

(1)

Protection of Software and Data

(1)

Disaster-Recovery Plans

(1)

Social Questions: Will Information Technology Make Our Lives Better?

(1)

Mental-Health Problems: Isolation, Gambling, Net Addiction, Stress

(1)

Workplace Problems

(1)

Economic Issues: Employment and the Haves/Have-Nots

(2)

Education and Information

(1)

Health

(1)

Commerce and Electronic Money

(1)

Government and Electronic Democracy

(1)

Career Box: Using Computers in Banking

(1)

Summary

(2)

Exercises

(2)

Episode 5: The Future of Your Web Business

Notes

(5)

Credits

(3)

Index

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Computers, Communications, and Information: A User's Introduction : Comprehensive Version

Computers, Communications, and Information: A User's Introduction : Comprehensive Version

9780072508284

0072508280

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Computers, Communications, and Information: A User's Introduction : Comprehensive Version

Computers, Communications, and Information: A User's Introduction : Comprehensive Version

9780072508284

0072508280

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

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